The filing mill
Low-cost forms, high-cost uncertainty.
No clearance search, no strategy, and a higher risk of rejection or a conflict you could have seen earlier.
Nationwide trademark counsel · Brand protection
Trademark
Attorney for
Growing Brands:
Nationwide
USPTO
Registration &
Brand Protection
Flat-fee trademark help with no surprises: clearance, filing, and protection from a licensed trademark attorney.
Book a Consult Clear advice. Defensible action.
The trademark brief
Protect the name before it becomes expensive to change.
A thoughtful trademark plan gives a growing brand room to move with confidence.
Licensed in Minnesota, admitted 2024Licensed in Missouri, admitted 2025Nationwide USPTO serviceFlat-fee structureFounder-friendly
Why now
The real cost of not trademarking.
A name can feel settled long before it is secure. Without a clearance search and a strategy, a growing brand can face a costly rebrand, a dispute, or the loss of the name it has worked to make recognizable.
BigLaw sticker shock
Premium rates for a federal process.
You may get more overhead without getting a clearer plan for the same USPTO process your brand needs to navigate.
Focused support
A clear path from name to protection.
Choose the support that fits where your brand is today, and keep the conversation open as it changes.
Trademark Search & Clearance
Know whether a name is worth building around before you spend time, money, and attention on it.
What’s included
- Clearance search for conflicts before investing in a name
- Practical guidance on risk, strength, and next steps
Trademark Application & Registration
Turn a good clearance decision into a filing strategy that supports the brand you are growing.
What’s included
- Filing strategy, application types, classes, and specimen guidance
- USPTO filing, preparation, and response to USPTO communications
Ongoing Brand Protection
Keep your trademark strategy useful as the business changes and new decisions come into view.
What’s included
- Ongoing guidance as the brand grows, expands, licenses, or needs enforcement
- Clear counsel when a new conflict or opportunity appears
Cost transparency
Trademark help shouldn’t come with surprises.
A flat-fee engagement should make the work easier to understand from the first conversation.
What’s included
- 01Clearance search
- 02Filing strategy
- 03USPTO filing & handling: prepare, file, and respond to USPTO communications
- 04Ongoing brand protection
- 05No hidden surprises: a clear flat-fee structure
What to ask before hiring a trademark attorney
- 01Do you run a clearance search before filing, or just file?
- 02What exactly does your fee include (search, filing, office-action responses)?
- 03Do you charge flat fees, or am I billed hourly for every USPTO letter?
- 04What happens if the USPTO rejects the application? Is that included?
- 05Will you advise me on strategy, or just process paperwork?
How it works
Simple steps. Serious attention.
You always know what happens next, why it matters, and how the decision supports the brand you are building.
01
Clearance search
Look for conflicts before you commit to a name.
02
Filing strategy
Choose the application approach, classes, and specimens that fit.
03
USPTO filing & responses
Prepare, file, and manage USPTO communications through the process.
04
Ongoing protection
Keep the mark aligned with how your brand grows, expands, licenses, or enforces.
Nationwide FAQs
Questions before you move.
Trademark decisions carry more weight than they first appear to. Here are a few clear places to start.
Why work with an attorney instead of a low-cost filing service?
A filing service may submit forms, but it typically does not provide a clearance search, filing strategy, or advice about conflicts. An attorney helps you make a better decision before you invest in the name and manages the legal process if the USPTO raises questions.
How long does trademark registration take?
The typical USPTO timeline is about 10 to 14 months, though timing varies based on the application and any questions from the examining attorney. Your attorney manages the process end to end, from strategy and filing through registration.
Can I trademark my business name?
Possibly. A business name can be protected when it functions as a trademark for particular goods or services and is not confusingly similar to an earlier mark. A clearance search helps assess the risks before you invest further in the name.
Do you handle trademarks for businesses outside Minnesota and Missouri?
Yes. The USPTO is federal, so trademark service is nationwide. Malellari Law works with businesses across the country on clearance, registration, strategy, and brand protection.
Should I conduct a trademark search before using my trademark?
Yes. A clearance search can identify earlier marks and other conflicts before you invest in a name, helping you avoid a USPTO refusal, a dispute, or the cost of rebranding later.
Should I trademark a word, a logo, or both?
It depends on how your brand is used and what you want to protect. A word mark can protect the name itself, while a logo registration protects the particular visual design. A strategy may include one or both.
About Klodiana
Strategy with a steady hand.
Klodiana Malellari is a licensed attorney with a USPTO-focused trademark practice. Her approach is strategic and personalized: clear enough to guide a first decision, rigorous enough to support a growing brand.
Licensed to practice law in Minnesota, admitted 2024.
Licensed to practice law in Missouri, admitted 2025.
She helps entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses, and growing brands nationwide with the trademark questions that shape what comes next.
A stronger next step
Let’s Protect Your Brand
Bring the name, the question, or the uncertainty. We’ll start with what matters and map the right trademark next step.